This Swedish young-adult drama blends urban fantasy and coming-of-age elements, drawing on a familiar theme that those accustomed to Hollywood productions might recognize. However, unlike many big-budget films driven by commercial interests, this one felt more understated. While recouping its production costs proved challenging—likely due to excessive dramatization for a teen audience—I personally found it enjoyable because the dramatic aspects didn't bother me. It’s a refreshing film that avoids being overly childish, making it accessible and potentially appealing even to adults looking for something different. The story unfolds in Engelsfors, a fictional town in Sweden, centering on six teenage girls who are chosen by a secret witch society with the responsibility of saving the world. These girls are quite distinct from one another and initially dislike each other, making cooperation against an emerging threat seem impossible. They eventually realize their potential and uncover the person responsible for unsettling events, leading to a final confrontation that determines their fate and concludes this first installment. The film’s pacing is deliberate, which may be its biggest obstacle in finding a wider audience, especially among younger viewers who often prefer faster-moving stories. It doesn't offer the visual spectacle common in American fantasy films. The narrative itself isn’t groundbreaking, and the characters feel relatable despite their supernatural abilities. Consequently, saving the world here is far from the large-scale events seen in something like 'The Avengers'; everything remains on a smaller, more contained scale. The success of a sequel hinged on the reception of this film, which received mixed reviews—though my own opinion is positive. Considering the production challenges it overcame, I doubt another installment will be made. Despite wanting to see more, given how cinema has become fixated on graphics and elaborate stunts for similar concepts, this type of film feels increasingly rare. > "You were born selected. > The Magic has always been within you." The film’s length is a definite drawback in today's viewing habits. It had ample opportunity to explore each character’s personality and did so to some extent, but it felt like more could have been done given the runtime; at times, development felt sluggish. Based on all of this, watching it on the big screen doesn’t seem essential. A television series might have worked better, but I'm glad it was released as a film—primarily because I prefer films for their sound mixing, which typically offers multi-track digital surround sound compared to the stereo found in most televisions. However, the audio quality here was merely adequate, consistent with its less extravagant nature. While I’ve seen several Swedish films, I don't know enough about the local acting scene to recognize many of the performers. It seems that mostly new faces comprised the main cast, and they all delivered strong performances. The production itself was impressive, complemented by wonderful music. I’m not familiar with the original books, but the mysteries surrounding the deaths were well-presented. The plot twist wasn't entirely unexpected, though it was certainly unpredictable. Numerous unanswered questions remain, presumably to be addressed in future installments—though I’m not optimistic about those happening anytime soon. Reading the books isn’t something I do, so my journey with the 'Engelsfors' trilogy appears to have ended here. Perhaps a Japanese or American adaptation would emerge instead. In my view, this film was overlooked because audiences are too focused on commercial elements that it lacks. Regardless, it deserves recognition among other films dealing with magic. I’ll recommend it, though I can’t guarantee everyone will share my enthusiasm. Still, I encourage you to give it a try. 8/10

Source on TMDB